Chipperfield to retire from Furniture Brands

Lynn Chipperfield, a 25-year veteran of Furniture Brands International Inc., is retiring from the Clayton-based company. Chipperfield, who most recently served as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of the furniture manufacturer and importer, will be replaced by Jon Botsford, who filled similar posts at Steelcase Inc.

Chipperfield’s experience at Furniture Brands stretches back to the days when it was known as Interco. In a press release, chairman W.G. “Mickey” Holliman credited him with guiding the company through “numerous challenges.”

Chipperfield said the retirement had been planned for months. “It’s a tough decision – I love my job,” he said in an interview. Retirement is “kind of like having kids. There’s never a good time to do it.” He plans to devote more time to nonprofit and educational work, including his work as a national board member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

Furniture Brands, which sells Broyhill, Lane and Thomasville pieces, is in the midst of several strategic moves designed to put it on firmer footing after a big slump in sales and profits. Last year, it slashed inventory, closed stores and warehouses and pushed to centralize several back-office operations.

“I haven’t quite gotten over the feeling that I’m leaving at an important time,” Chipperfield said. “I do have the really good feelign that the company’s in really good hands. It made the decision all that much easier.”